Elder Yun Buqi appears somewhat worn-out but is in good spirits.
He hasn't taken on a personal disciple for many years, let alone such an excellent one! This disciple is clever and talented; if it weren't for the heartbreak caused by the Zhiyun Hall, he wouldn't have stumbled upon this opportunity.
However... thinking of the Ziyun Hall, Elder Yun Buqi feels a pang in his heart. Such a good child shouldn't be treated this way.
"Come, come, come, Little Mu, see what I have brought you."
As he speaks, Elder Yun Buqi's storage ring glows with light, and as if teasing, the brilliance obscures what is inside, making it hard for Yu Mu to see.
"Master, stop playing around." Yu Mu smiles wryly, but seeing Elder Yun Buqi's proud smile, the light dissipates, revealing a long spear floating in front of Elder Yun Buqi.
The spear is horizontally positioned in the air, with purple flames burning between its prongs, and on the dark spear body, a vividly carved purple dragon is depicted, baring its fangs and claws.
At the moment it appears, a sound like a dragon's roar accompanies the spear's ringing, and a terrifying aura of slaughter instantly fills the space, stirring Elder Yun Buqi's white beard and hair.
If it weren't for his powerful cultivation suppressing it, the Xingyun Hall would likely be overturned by this murderous aura!
"This..."
Looking at the spear, Yu Mu is moved for the first time since regressing.
This is the demonic spear, Tianwen, which has been suppressed at the bottom of the spiritual ruins.
In his previous life, this spear had followed him into battle for thousands of years. But in the last battle, Tianwen shattered, destroyed by Ye Tian's divine artifact, which ironically was fueled by Xiao Yu's blood.
The Demonic Dragon Soul, which had always been hidden within Tianwen and was his only confidant, also perished with its fall.
He held the broken spear, ready to kill Ye Tian for revenge! Clearly... Yu Mu's fingertips lightly graze the hot spear body.
In the depths of his being, is it back? Is it still willing to follow him...
In Elder Yun Buqi's astonished gaze, Tianwen inexplicably quiets down.
"Very good, it seems... this spear is indeed fated to be with you."
Elder Yun Buqi laughs heartily: "In that case, I... um! As your master, I will give you this spear. By the way, Little Mu, can you wield a spear?"
"I can."
Yu Mu seems to have made a decision, gripping Tianwen tightly with his long, strong fingers. At that moment, even Elder Yun Buqi can feel the spirit of the spear's joy!
"Disciple... thank you, Master!"
The long spear circles around Yu Mu three times like a swimming dragon, and with a ringing sound, it transforms into purple light, merging into Yu Mu's hand. It seems as if it has always belonged to Yu Mu.
Yu Mu kneels on one knee, feeling that what he once lost is returning, and the heart that had once fallen has gained some warmth.
"You and I, as master and disciple, need not say thanks; just be happy," Elder Yun Buqi strokes his white beard. "Here with me, you need not overthink; just focus on your cultivation. You should know that if the sky falls, I will support you.
"You should be the last disciple of my life; as long as I draw breath, I will not let you suffer even the slightest grievance."
"I believe in you, Master, I believe you... can do it."
"You... have already done it once for someone like me with no family."
Elder Yun Buqi did not hear the last sentence clearly. Facing Yu Mu, he feels an inexplicable sense of fulfillment, as if taking Yu Mu as a disciple fills a void of something he should have lost.
"Indeed! Little Mu, let me tell you, don't underestimate me; I am actually one of the top figures in the entire Northwest! Moreover, I still have hopes of stepping into the transformation of divinity in my lifetime!" Elder Yun Buqi, lifting Yu Mu, talks animatedly, then wants to pull him to drink.
In the cultivation room, the spirit stones glow with spiritual energy, and as the jade cup lightly touches, accompanied by Elder Yun Buqi's chatter, the indifference deep in Yu Mu's eyes seems to slowly dissolve in the warm, gentle light.
After a long time, Elder Yun Buqi, tongue-tied and talkative, while Yu Mu still smiles warmly, listening to his master's words.
He knows, he has always known, that his master's drinking capacity... perhaps can only match that of ordinary people, yet he still loves to drink a couple of cups.
"Little Mu... you... you are my disciple, the disciple of Elder Yun Buqi..."
In drunken ramblings, Yu Mu looks at Elder Yun Buqi, who has collapsed on the table, takes off his robe, and covers him, then waves his hand to clean up the mess.
"Master, you are one of the few salvation for me."
...
Under the bright moon, at the highest point of Xingyun Hall, a cool night breeze brushes past Yu Mu's hair. Holding a jade pot in his hand, he seems to raise a cup to invite the moon.
Just like the past, at the peak of the Demon Domain Mountain, where the Demon Emperor stood alone with a spear against the heavens.
But in this life, he is not alone.
Who knows that the blood-soaked Demon Emperor, whose very soul is stained with blood, is a powerful being of the demonic path! The path he cultivates... is that of protection!
The one regarded as the Holy Son, unconditionally trusted and revered like a god by the world, Ye Tian, cultivates the way of slaughter.
When the wine in the pot is finished, Yu Mu carefully puts away the jade pot, and a dark purple light suddenly appears, with Tianwen reappearing in his hand.
The spear's ringing is joyful, solely for Yu Mu. Even though Yu Mu's current cultivation cannot suppress the demonic dragon soul, it still instinctively trusts and clings to Yu Mu.
"I will protect you too." Yu Mu smiles, seemingly returning to the past, to that clean self, inside and out, even though... he never thought of himself as dirty.
With the spear across his knee, under the moonlight, Yu Mu's terrifyingly profound cultivation bursts forth! At the peak of the Golden Core stage! In the Northwest, he is already a remarkable figure.
Currently, he is facing the Ziyun Hall!
"'Heavenly River Profound Art, I return it to you."
"Vroom!!"
The aura of dispersing power is so strong that even the protective formation of Xingyun Hall cannot fully contain it, transforming into an invisible wave that sweeps across the entire Yunhe Sect!
Feeling this aura, everyone in the sect is shocked! Especially the disciples of Ziyun Hall, who awaken from their cultivation in alarm, looking up in panic.
This is the aura of the senior brother; he... he is dispersing his power! As a Golden Core cultivator, dispersing his main cultivation method is akin to starting over...
Liu He's eyes instantly become moist as she looks toward the direction of Xingyun Hall, her red lips murmuring, unsure of what she is saying.
Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes are filled with killing intent; her junior brother... he has dispersed the Heavenly River Profound Art, he has betrayed the master! He has turned his back on the Ziyun Hall!
In the cultivation room, Ye Tian looks up. Without anyone beside him, he no longer possesses that gentle and obedient demeanor that needs to protect.
Instead, he appears filled with unmatched confidence and dominance; his eyes widen, revealing vertical pupils! The aura around him does not resemble an ordinary human but rather exudes a demonic energy.
A mocking curve appears at the corner of his mouth: "Seeking death."
Only Fairy Zi Li is lightly biting her lip at this moment.
"Mu'er... what did I do wrong? Why must you treat me this way..."